Stop motion for looms



June 2, 1934- J. J. KAUFMANN STOP MQTION FOR LOOKS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed' Feb. 27-, 1932 flttforny.

June 1934- J. J. KAUFMANN STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27. 1932 fwefziors J5 cobjfr g rrwmv, W .@M

Filed Feb. 27, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 12, 1934.

J. J. KAUFMANN STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed Feb. 27. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mentor:

Jkrulicob f'd rm Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS John Jacob Kaui'mann, Elkins Park, Pa., assignor to Steel licddle Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a corporation of Application February 27, 1932, Serial No. 595,445

14 Claims.

My invention relates to stop motions for looms.

and it relates more particularly to that type of stop motion in which an electrical circuit is employed in effecting the actuation of the knock-off" mechanism which brings the 100111 to a stop.

Heretofore, various arrangements have been suggested for completing an electrical circuit whenever a warp end breaks or becomes unduly slack. These devices have been of various types, but the present invention is more particularly concerned with that type of stop motion in which the shed forming heddles are used as part of the detector mechanism. In some of such devices it is necessary, and in others advisable, to supply the current to the harness frame in which the heddles are mounted only when theharness frame is in its lowermost shedding position, the reasons for which are well known to those familiar with such devices.

One of the principal objects of my present invention is to provide improved means for supplying current at the proper time to contact members carried by the harness frame to the end that an electricalcircuit. will be completed and the loom automatically stopped thereby, in the event that a. waip end is broken or unduly slack.

A further and equally. important object of my invention is to provide improved means for completing the electrical circuit in the event of disarrangement or dropping of one or both ends of the harness frame, as happens when the straps for actuating the same become stretched or broken, so that the 100m will be automatically stopped under such circumstances.

A further object of my invention is to provide unitary devices. one of which may be mounted at each end of the group of harness frames for accomplishing the foregoing objects.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for accomplishing the foregoing objects, which will be relatively simple, inexpensive, efficient. and durable, and which may be readily applied to existing looms.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of one end of a loom harness frame, having associated therewith contact making devices em- 5 bodying the main features of my present inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the arrangement at the other end of the frame;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the cooperating contact members carried by the several frames being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; 5

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 9 f Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one arrangement of circuits, and the parts controlling and controlled thereby. in connection with 7 which the device of my present invention is adaptable for use.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein contained are illustrative merely, and that various changes and 7 modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention. 7

Referring to thedrawings, the harness frame there shown is of a common andwell known type, comprising top and bottom rails 10, connected at their ends by metallic'end struts 11. The heddle supporting rods 12 are mounted at their ends in slots in the end struts 11, and serve to support the heddles 13, which are mounted thereon. The heddles 13 may be of any of the usual types of metallic heddles, customarily used .for controlling the warp ends to form the successive sheds during the operation of the loom.

The heddles 13 are mounted in the usual manner on the supporting rods 12 by means of the slots 14 near the ends thereof.

Each of the heddles 13 is also provided with an additional slot 15, through which extends a composite contact bar 16, comprising a central metallic strip 17, the lower portion of which is partially surrounded by a sheet of insulating material 18. and a metallic envelope 19. U-shaped in cross-section.

The construction andarrangemcnt of the con- 10o tact bar 16 issuch that when the harness frame is in its lowermost position, and current is supplied to the contact bar 16 in the manner to be hereinafter described, a circuit will be completed by the dropping of one of the heddles 13, in the event that the warp end controlled thereby should break or become unduly slack.

The composite contact bar 16 is mounted in the harness frame by means of slots 20 provided in the end struts 11, through which the contact bar extends. At the left hand end of the harness frame, the central metallic strip 1''! of the contact bar extends beyond the end of the U-shaped envelope 19 (see Fig. 1), and at the right hand end of the harness frame, the U-shaped envelope 19 extends beyond the end of the central metallic strip 17 (see Fig. 2).

Each of the harness frames carries a contact member at each upper corner thereof. Each of said contact members comprises'a horizontal arm 21 and a vertically extending portion 22, whereby said contact member is secured to the harness frame by'means of screws 23 which are threaded in portions of the side struts 11.

Each of the portions 22 of the contact member also serves to secure a leaf spring 24, the free end of which engages the extending portion of the composite contact bar 16, serving not only.

to confine the contact bar within the frame, but also to convey the current to the respective portions of the contact bar which are engaged thereby.

The contact member at the left hand end of each harness frame is insulated therefrom by means of a sheet 25 of insulating material, interposed between the portion of the leaf spring 24 which is engaged by the portion 22 of the contact member, and the portion of the side strut 11 of the harness frame to which said contact member is secured. Insulating bushings 26 and washers 27 serve to insulate the screws 23 from the contact member at the end of the harness frame where the leaf spring 24 is insulated from the side strut 11 by means of the insulating strip 25.

At the right hand end of the harness frame, the contact member, and the portion of the spring 24 which is confined thereby, are grounded, or electrically connected to the portion of the side strut 11 to which they are attached, by reason of the omission at this end of the harness frame of the insulating strip 25, bushing 26, and washers 27, which are provided at the other end of the frame.

At each end of the group or set of harness frames, and so positioned as to be engaged, in

the manner hereinafter described, by the contact arms 21 which are carried at the respective ends of the harness frames, there is provided a device which serves not only to supply current to the contact arms 21 when the harness frames reach their normal lowermost positions, but also to establish an electrical circuit whenever either or both ends of one of said frames drops below its normal lowermost position, by reason of one or more of the actuating straps (not shown) becoming broken or unduly stretched.

The device above mentioned comprises a metallic bar 30, having a plate portion 31 extending upwardly from the outer side thereof. A block 32 of insulating material is secured to the plate portion 31, and in this block of insulating material a plurality of hollow metallic pins 33 are mounted in a row in close proximity to each other. The pins 33 extend upwardly from the block 32 and are adapted to be engaged by the contact arms 21 carried at the ends of the harness frames when the frames descend to form the shed.

Each of the pins 33 is impelled to its uppermost position by means of a coil spring 34, the upper end of which is positioned in thehollow interior of the pin, and the lower end of which extends to the lowermost position of the insulating block 32. Each of the pins is limited in its upwa d movement by a shoulder 35, provided at the lower end thereof.

The lower end of each of the springs 34 bears against a metallic strip 36, which extends along the under side of the insulating block 32. The metallic strip 36 is insulated from the bar 30 by means of a strip 37 of insulating material which is interposed between said metallic strip 36 and said bar 30. 36 extends beyond the end of the bar 30 and the insulating block 32, for the connection thereto, by means of a screw 38, of a wire for conveying the current to said strip 36, and thence through the springs 34 to the pins 33.

'It may here be noted that the upper marginal edge of the plate portion 31 of the bar 30 is positioned above the top surface of the insulating block 32, but below the plane of the upper ends of the pins 33 when said pins are in their uppermost positions. The upper edge of the plate portion 31 is also so located that the same will not be engaged by the contact arms 21 carried by the heddle frames when the heddle frames are in their normal lowermost positions, but will be engaged thereby in the event of the end of a harness frame falling below its normal lowermost position by reason of the breaking or undue stretching of. an actuating strap (not shown).

One end of the metallic strip The bar 30 of the above described contact adjusted position by means of a clamping screw' 44 (see Fig. 1). The bracket 43 is fastened by means of a set screw 45 to a bar 46, which is secured in any preferred manner to any suitable portion of the loom frame. By the foregoing arrangement, a wide range of adjustment is provided, whereby the contact devices above described may be readily mounted in any of the various existing types of looms.

At one side of the loom, the bar 30 is secured directly to the bar 41, thereby being grounded, or electrical-1y connected to the frame of the loom, through the bar 41, bracket 43, and bar 46. At the other side of the loom, the bar 30 is insulated from the bar 41 by means of an insulating sleeve 4'7, surrounding the bolt 42 and insulating washers 48 and 49, on each side of the lug 39 (see Fig. 2).

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 7 of the drawings, there is there shown a typical arrangement of circuits, and the parts controlling and controlled thereby, in connection with which the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings is adaptable for use, although it will, of course,

off lever 53 is grounded,or electrically connected to the main frame of the loom, this grounding being indicated by the wire 55 extending to the ground 56,

The positive terminal of the battery 50 is connected by wire 5'7 to one end of the coil 58 of an electro-magnet. The other end of the coil 58 of the electro-magnet is connected by wire 59 to the pins 33, which are adapted to be engaged by the contact arms 21 carried at the left hand end of the harness frames. The bar 30, at this side of the loom, is grounded, or electrically connected to the main frame of the loom, this grounding being indicated by the wire 60 and ground 61.

A shunt line 62 extends from wire 59 to the bar 30 at the right hand side of. the loom. The

pins 33 at this side of the loom are grounded, or electrically connected to the frame of the loom, this grounding being indicated by the wire 63 and ground 64.

Adjacent the pole 65 of the electro-magnet is a movable armature 66, carried by a pivoted lever 67, whereby said lever will be actuated when the current passes through the coil 58 of the electro-magnet. The free end of the lever 6'7 is connected. by means of a rod 68 to a movable dog 69, carried by a shipper rod '70.

The dog 69 is adapted to be raised when the armature 66 is attracted to the pole piece 65 of the electro-magnet, to cause said dog 69 to be engaged by a lug '71, carried by the lay '72, and thereby to cause the shipper rod '70 to be actuated by the movement of the lay '72 whenever the electro-magnet is energized. The shipper rod '70 also carries a lug '73, which is adapted to engage and actuate the knock-off lever 53 when said shipper rod '70 is thus actuated.

i A stationary contact member '74 is arranged adjacent the lever 67, and is adapted to be engaged thereby whenever the electro-magnet is energized. This contact member '74 is connected by wire '75 to wire 59. The lever 6'7 is grounded, or electrically connected to the frame of the loom, this grounding being indicated by wire '76 and ground '77.

The operation of the device may now be explained. It may first be pointed out that when the loom is functioning normally, the "knock-off lever 53 will be in such position that the spring arm 54 carried thereby will be in contact with the member 52, whereby, if the circuit be otherwise established, the current may flow from the negative terminal of the battery 50, through Wire 51, to contact member 52, thence by spring arm 54, and wire 55, to ground 56.

When, however, the "knock-off lever 53 is in the position assumed when the loom is stopped, the. spring 54 will be separated from the contact member 52, thereby maintaining the circuit open Whenever the loom is not operating.

When the loom is functioning normally, the circuit will be open, but in the event of certain contingencies, a number of alternative paths for the current are provided, as will hereinafter appear. The operation with respect to the stopping of the loom whenever a warp end breaks or becomes unduly slack will be first described.

When a harness frame descends to its lowermost shedding position, the tension imparted to the warp ends controlled by the heddles in said frame will cause the entire set of heddles therein to be raised, this action being permitted by reason of the provision of the slots 14 in the heddles 13. The heddles 13 will then slightly raise the composite contact bar 16. Should, however, one of the Warp ends be broken or unduly slack, the heddle for controlling the same will drop, thus completing an electrical circuit through the heddle across the central metallic strip 17 and the outer metallic envelope 19 of the composite contact bar 16.

When the harness frame is in its normal lowermost position, the contact arm 21 at each end thereof will engage and slightly depress one or more of the pins 33. A circuit will then be established, the current passing from the negative terminal of the battery 50, by wire 57, through the coil 58' of the electro-magnet, thence by wire 59, to the pins 33 adjacent the left hand end of the harness frames, thence by arm 21 and vertical extension 22 of the contact member carried at the upper left hand corner of the harness frame, to the leaf spring 24 associated therewith.

The current will then pass from leaf spring 24 to the central metallic strip 17, thence through the dropped heddle, to the outer metallic envelope 19, thence by leaf spring 24 at the upper right hand corner of the harness frame, to the vertical extension 22 and arm 21 of the contact member carried at this place, thence passing by pins 33 at the right hand side of the group of harness frames, by wire 63, to ground 64.

When the current passes as aforesaid, the electro-magnet will be energized and the armature 66 of the lever 67 will be attracted toward the pole piece of said electro-magnet. In this manner, the free end of the lever 67 will be raised, causing the dog 69 carried by the shipper rod '70 to be raised in the path of the lug 71 carried by the lay 72. As the lay moves to its rearward position, the lug '71, by reason of its engagement with the dog 69, will cause the shipper rod '70 to be actuated, and thereby, through the lug '73, the knock-off lever 53 will be actuated to bring the loom to a stop in the usual manner, at which time the circuit will be opened as hereinbefore described, by reason of the separation of the spring arm 54, carried by the knock-off lever 53, and the stationary contact member 52, to which the wire 51 extends.

When the circuit is first closed as aforesaid,

.this closing of the circuit is only momentary, that is to say, while the harness frame remains in its normal lowermost position, but it is desirable that the electro-magnet be maintained energized until the lug '71 carried by the lay '72 has had an opportunity to engage the dog 69 carried by the shipper rod '70, and for this purpose the contact member '74, which is adapted to 'be engaged by the lever 67, is provided.

When the lever 6'7 touches the contact member '74, the current will then flow from line 59, through wire '75, to the contact member '74, thence through said lever 67, by wire '76, to ground '77, thus maintaining the electro-magnet energized, and holding the dog 69 in its raised position, to insure the actuation of the shipper rod '70 and knock-off lever 53, notwithstanding the subsequent .opening of the circuit through the contact bar 16 of the harness frame, when the contact arms 21 leave the pins 33 by reason of the upward movement of the harness frame.

In the event of the breaking or undue stretching of any of the straps for actuating the harness frames, one or both ends of the harness frame controlled thereby will be permitted to drop below its normal lowermost position, whereupon the contact arm 21 will cause the pins 33 engaged thereby to be further depressed, until the contact arm 21 engages the top marginal edge of the plate 31 extending upwardly from the bar 30.

When this occurs at the left hand end of the harness frame, the current, will flow from line 59 which extends from the coil 58 of the electromagnet, to the pins 33, thence by arm 21, to plate 31, to bar 30, thence by wire 60 to ground 61, thus completing the circuit and energizing the elcctro-magnet in the same manner as hereinbefore described with respect to the operation when one of the heddles drops by reason of its warp end becoming broken or unduly slack.

When the right hand end of a harness frame drops below its normal lowermost position, the current will flow from line 59 which extends from the coil 58 of the electro-magnet, through'line 62, to the bar 30 and the plate 31 which extends upwardly therefrom, thence by contact arm 21 to the pins 33, thence by wire 63, to ground 64 thus completing the circuit and energizing the electro-magnet to cause the same to function as hereinbefore described.

It will, of course, be understood that the device for supplying the current to the harness frame, and for completing the circuit whenever one or both ends of the harness frame drop below its normal lowermost position, may be used in connection with various other types of devices for making contact within the harness frame whenever a heddle drops by reason of a warp end becoming broken or unduly slack.

I claim:

1. In a stop motion for looms, means for stopping the loom including an electrical circuit, means in theharness frame for closing said circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack,

a contact arm carried by the harness frame and included in said circuit, and a member positioned whereby said contact arm will make contact therewith and also close the circuit when the frame falls below its normal lowermost position.

2. In a stop motion for looms, means for stopping the loom including an electrical circuit; contact arms carried by the harness frames and projecting therefrom; and a member positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position; the circuit being completed through said contact arm when it contacts with said member.

3. In a' stop motion for looms, electromagnetically controlled means for stopping the loom; a circuit for controlling said means; contact arms carried by the harness frames and projecting therefrom; and a member positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position; the circuit being completed through said contact arm when it contacts with said member.

4. In a stop motion for looms, means for stopping the loom including an electrical circuit; contact arms carried by the harness frames; and de vices adapted to be engaged by the contact arms, each of said devices comprising members electrically insulated from each other, one of said members being positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position, and the contact arm serving to close the circuit when it contacts with both of said members.

adapted to be engaged by tne contact arms, each of said devices comprising members electrically insulated from each other, one of said members being positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position. and the contact arm serving to close the circuit when it contacts with both of said members.

6. In a stop motion for looms, means for stopping the loom including an electrical circuit, har ness frames having means for completing said circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; contact arms carried by the harness frames; and devices adapted to be engaged by the contact arms, each of said devices comprising members electrically insulated from each other; the contact arms being adapted to make contact with one of said members when the frame descends to form the shed; the other of said members being positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position, and the contact arm serving to close the circuit when it contacts with both of said members.

7. In a stop motion for looms, electromagnetically controlled means for stopping the loom; a circuit for controlling said means; harness frames having means for completing said circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; contact arms carried by the harness frames; and devices adapted to be engaged by the contact arms, each of said devices comprising members electrically insulated from each other, the contact arms being adapted to make contact with one of said members when the frame descends to form the shed, the other of said members being positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position, and the contact arm serving to close the circuit when it contacts with both of said members.

8. In a stop motion for looms, means for stopping the loom including an electrical circuit, harness frames having means for completing said circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; contact arms carried by the harness frames; and devices adapted to be engaged by the contact arms, each of said devices comprising depressible members and a fixed member electrically insulated from said depressible members; the contact arms being adapted to make contact with the depressible members when the frame descends to form the shed; the fixed member being positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position, and the contact arm serving to close the circuit when it contacts with the fixed member.

9. In a stop motion for looms, electromagnetically controlled means for stopping, the .loom; a circuit for controlling said means; harness frames having means for completing said circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; contact arms carried by the harness frames; and devices adapted to be engaged by the contact arms, each of said devices comprising depressible members and a fixed member electrically insulated from said depressible members, the contact arms being adapted to make contact with the depressible members when the frame descends to form the shed; the fixed member being positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position, and the contact arm serving to close the circuit when it contacts with the fixed member.

10. In a stop motion for looms, means for stopping the loom including an electrical circuit, harness frames having means for completing said circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; contact arms carried at the ends of the harness frames; and devices arranged adjacent the ends of the harness frames and adapted to be engaged by the contact arms, each of said devices comprising depressible members and a fixed member electricallydnsulated from said depressible members; the contact arms being adapted to make contact with the depressible members when the frame descends to form the shed; the fixed when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; con-.

tact arms carried at the ends of the harness frames; and devices arranged adjacent the ends of .the harness frames and adapted to be engaged by the contact arms, each of said devices comprising depressible members and a fixed member electrically insulated from said depressible members; the contact arms being adapted to make contact with the depressible members when the frame descends to form the shed; the fixed member being positioned whereby a contact arm will make contact therewith only when a frame falls below its normal lowermost position, and the contact arm serving to close the circuit when it contacts with the fixed member.

12. In an electrical warp stop motion for looms, harness frames having means for completing a circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; contact arms carried by the harness frames; an

insulating block; and a plurality of independently depressible pins mounted in said insulating block in close proximity to each other; said pins being included in the circuit and positioned whereby one or more of said pins will be engaged 80 by a contact arm when a harness frame descends to its normal lowermost position; and means controlled by the circuit for stopping the loom.

13. In an electrical warp stop motion for looms, contact arms carried by the harness frames and projecting therefrom; and a metallic bar having a portion positioned to be engaged by a contact arm .only when a portion of the frame falls below its normal lowermost position, thereby to complete the circuit throughsaid contact arm; and means controlled by the circuit for stopping the loom.

14. In an electrical warp stop motion for looms, harness frames having means for completing a circuit when a warp end is broken or unduly slack; contact arms carried by the harness frames; a device adapted to be engaged thereby, said device comprising a metallic bar, an insulating block secured thereto, and a plurality of depressible pins mounted in said insulating block; said pins being included in the circuit and positioned to be engaged by a contact arm when a harness frame descends to its normal lowermost position; the metallic bar having a portion positioned to be engaged by a contact arm only when a portion of the frame falls below its normal lowermost position, thereby to complete the circuit independently of the circuit completing means in the harness frame; and means controlled by the circuit for stopping the loom.

JOHN JACOB KAUFMANN. 

